SW Harbor Water
SOUTHWEST HARBOR, Maine (AP) – A snowmobile crash in Maine that sent three people to the hospital for hypothermia has forced the closure of a town’s water treatment plant. Steve Kenney, manager of Southwest Harbor Water and Sewer District, closed down the plant Wednesday night, shortly after Eli Strauss crashed his snowmobile into Long Pond. The Bangor Daily News reports the plant’s closure poses no immediate threat to Southwest Harbor’s water supply. Strauss, his 12-year-old daughter and her 12-year-old friend went into the water after he veered slightly from a local snowmobile trail. They were able to swim to shore, and were rescued quickly. Strauss says he will have a contractor remove the snowmobile from the pond Friday, in accordance with state law. The treatment plant will resume operations on Friday.
Snowmobile Warning
(Augusta) – The Southwest Harbor snowmobile incident is not an isolated event. Maine’s Warden Service says they’ve responded to near drownings in Sangerville, Belgrade and Denmark too, and they’ve issued a warning about operating snowmobiles on Maine’s lakes and ponds. Corporal John McDonald tells Star 97.7 that last weekend’s heavy rains and rapid thaw made lakes very unstable.
20 on the 20th
(Ellsworth) The Ellsworth Chamber’s annual campaign to help boost the local economy during the slow season is coming up tomorrow. Executive director Gretchen Wilson says there’s a new incentive this year to get out and spend $20 on the 20th. Find the list of participating businesses online at: Ellsworth Chamber dot Org.
Shaky Tires
(Local) If you feel shaking and vibration in your vehicle while driving it may be time to clean out your wheels. Triple-A Northern New England spokesman Pat Moody says it can be caused when snow packs into the wheels and the heat from the brakes melts the snow, then it freezes to the wheel unevenly. Moody recommends taking your vehicle to a car wash as long as temperatures are above freezing to spray out snow and ice from wheel wells.
Murder Trial Update
(Machias) The case against 2 New Yorkers charged with killing a Maine woman months ago could soon move forward. The Ellsworth American reports next week a judge will hold a private call with Quaneysha Greeley and her lawyers. The murder case is held up because Greeley’s co-defendant, Carine Reeves is still held in New York where he faces assault charges. Once those assault charges are resolved Reeves will be extradited to Maine, tentatively in early March. The pair is accused of killing 55-year-old Sally Shaw in July last year and dumping her body along side a road in Cherryfield. Police say Shaw helped Reeves sell drugs in Eastern Maine and Greeley was present when Reeves killed Shaw.
Shooting Arrest
(Bridgewater) – State Police have arrested an Easton man, charging him with murdering an elderly man in the Aroostook County town of Bridgewater. Troopers and deputies responded to a home in Bridgewater Wednesday night and found 79-year old Paul Hilenski’s body. They caught up with 37-year old James Peaslee a short time later and charged him with murder, arresting him without incident. The shooting is the 4th Maine homicide so far in 2018.
Small Quake
(Dresden) Authorities in Maine are investigating a small earthquake. Officials say the magnitude 2-point-6 quake happened at 6:47 Wednesday evening and the quake’s epicenter was in the town of Dresden.
No Maine Amazon
(Maine) Neither of Maine’s long-shot bids to lure Amazon to the Pine Tree State has made the cut. On Thursday Seattle-based Amazon named 20 cities that are still in consideration for a second headquarters. Proposals in Brunswick and Scarborough were not on the list.
Money for Moose Permits
(Augusta) Lawmakers are considering a bill to allow money to change hands when hunters swap moose permits in Maine’s tightly regulated moose hunt. The Legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee voted 11 to 1 Tuesday supporting the bill. Since 2015, Maine prohibited hunters from offering each other compensation when swapping permits. Previously, some hunters received thousands of dollars in doing so. Maine awarded just over 2-thousand moose hunting permits last year.
Wood Burning Safety
(Ellsworth) – It’s about the middle of the winter heating season, and if you burn wood, it’s time to take care of some safety business. Ellsworth deputy fire chief Gary Saunders tells Star 97-7 that people burning wood should look around the stove to make sure nothing can catch fire. Saunders also recommends a professional chimney cleaning during the heating season.
Sports
- Philadelphia 76ers 89 Boston Celtics 80
- Tom Brady missed practice yesterday with his jammed hand. He’s expected to play Sunday in the AFC Championship game
- College Basketball: (men) Hartford 86 U-Maine 68
High School Basketball
Boys
Ellsworth 62, Washington Academy 58
Jonesport-Beals 85, Narraguagus 43
Hermon 51, Oceanside (Coop) 41
Brewer 69, Gardiner Area 58
Dexter 59, Penquis Valley 30
Hampden Academy 74, Camden Hills 49
Girls
Old Town 41, Foxcroft Academy 26
Dexter 53, Penquis Valley 46
Hampden Academy 60, Camden Hills 40
